Marsh, a believer in preparation, won a 3A title at Blazer High (Ashland) in 1990
There are coaches indelibly and inextricably tied to the schools at which those coaches experienced their most prolific and profound successes, the schools where they had their finest runs, if you will. Phillip Haywood coached at more schools than just Belfry but he will forever be tied to the Pirates on Pond Creek. Dudley Hilton will always be thought of as a Bell County HFC, Mike Holcomb will forever be thought a Breathitt Bobcat, Bobby Redman is tied to Male High, Danny Goble will always be thought of as a Christian County Colonel, etc., etc., ad infinitum. The same is true of Vic Marsh and the Paul Blazer High School in Ashland, KY. Marsh became the head football coach at Blazer in 1981 and he remained in that post through the 1993 season and then return to the post for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Marsh played at Blazer in 1963, ’64, and ’65 so he fit in well as part of the tapestry of Tomcat football. Marsh believed in preparation. In that way he was probably a Benjamin Franklin fan. We will explain that more in this article. Marsh is the winningest coach in Blazer history, winning 112-games and the 1990, 3A KHSAA title over Lincoln County.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Ashland, KY: Have you ever heard of Poor Richard’s Almanac? We are willing to bet Vic Marsh was a fan, but more on that a little later.
Poor Richard’s Almanac was a continually appearing publication which printed around 10,000 copies a year authored by Benjamin Franklin from 1732-1758. It was a grand commercial success.
Benjamin Franklin, in 1735, upon the death of his brother James, sent 500 copies of his almanac to his sister-in-law and newly widowed wife of his late brother as a gesture of generosity. She was encouraged to generate income by selling the almanacs.
Franklin was known for his wisdom and wit and many of his quotes which appeared in Poor Richard’s Almanac continue to resonate today. Some of the more famous ones were, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” “Well done is better than well said,” and “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Another well-known quote was, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
These are all sayings with which you are undoubtedly familiar. You may not have known to whom to attribute them prior to this article, or where they might have before appeared in print; but, you have heard them before said, and you have seen them before written.
Louis XVI of France gave a ship to John Paul Jones to assist our cause against the British in the Revolutionary War. Jones was a Scottish-born naval officer who served in the Colonial Navy. Jones is thought of as the Father of the American Navy. Jones named this “gift,” this ship from the King of France, “Bonhomme Richard.”
While that means literally, “Goodman Richard,” that would have been a polite title of address, at the time, for a commoner named Richard. In other words the ship was named for “Poor Richard.”
This almanac was translated into Italian, twice translated into French, and reprinted in Great Britain, in broadside, and distributed by members of the clergy to poor parishioners.
It was the first work of English Literature to be translated into Slovene. Slovene is the native language of Slovenia, a country in Central Europe.
Poor Richard’s Almanac, and Benjamin Franklin himself, were the very reflection of the “spirit of capitalism.” The almanac is widely still quoted, even though most people don’t appreciate that what they are hearing (or reading) is from that particular work.
One of Benjamin Franklin’s more recognized quotations is one which Vic Marsh sort of exhibited in his own life and coaching career. We can’t say for certain it came from Poor Richard’s Almanac, but it did come from the author, Benjamin Franklin. It is often attributed to the almanac as the almanac was a major source for Franklin’s well published word-play, wit, and wisdom.
By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail
Benjamin Franklin, “Poor Richards Almanac,” 1732-1758
The saying is “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.” Marsh was well known, throughout the KHSAA football coaching industry as a steeped and ardent student of preparation. So much so, Marsh was probably a fan of both Benjamin Franklin and his wonderful almanac; or so we might wager, were we the wagering sort.
Marsh was coaching the West Carter Comets back in 1972. This was that program’s inaugural team and they had to play every game on the road.
Marsh got the opportunity to take the Coles Junior High job which included coaching the freshman team and being an assistant on the Blazer High staff, in Ashland, working for then coach, Herb Conley.
Marsh jumped at the opportunity. He had, after all, played for Blazer earning three varsity letters in football in 1963, ’64, and ’65.
Marsh didn’t quite make it onto the 1967 title team (2A) at Blazer coached by Jake Hallum. However, he had played with those guys and knew them all well.
As for Coach Hallum, he had been on Fleming Thornton‘s Hopkinsville staff and won 2A titles in 1965 and 1966 before winning his own title in 1967 at Paul Blazer. Hallum would go on to be the head coach at Morehead before coaching the OL at both Maryland and UK for Jerry Claiborne (who played for Ralph Mills at Hopkinsville in the 40s).
After retiring from coaching, Hallum was a scout for both the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
Now back to Marsh, who left West Carter for the Coles Junior High head football coaching job. Coles Junior High was the feeder program for Blazer’s Tomcats. It allowed Marsh to reconnect with the program he loved, the one for which he had played.
Marsh left the West Carter job to take the HFC job at Coles Junior High
Friday Night Fletch
Then, in 1981, Marsh become the head football coach at Paul Blazer High in Ashland, KY. Marsh relieved Mike Manley. Manley left Ashland to become the offensive coordinator at Morehead State.
Marsh would stay in that post through the 1993 season. Marsh retired. It was believed Marsh had “burned out.”
Then in 1997, Marsh was talked into returning. He would coach an additional two years for Blazer.
In his mighty return in the 1997 opener, Marsh rang up 70-points on Pikeville High in the Pike County Bowl. That was the highest point total for a Tomcats team in 30-years.
Marsh’s team stockpiled over 500-yards rushing in that one game. It was Marsh’s 100th win as a head coach.
All in all, Marsh compiled 112-wins, over 15-seasons, to top the all-time, Tomcats, football wins list. Over his tenure, Marsh averaged seven and a half (7.5) wins a season and led the program to its first KHSAA title (3A) since the 1967 title (2A).
Like we have before discussed, the word’s first and only come into play so frequently when discussing “all timers.” Wouldn’t the great wordsmith, Benjamin Franklin, be proud?
Marsh led Paul Blazer High to its first ever 3A football title, first title in football since 1967, and the only title it would win until Coach Tony Love won the championship in 2020’s pandemic shortened season. Marsh led his 1990 squad to a 14-1 finish, an early season loss to Greenup County being its only black mark. Marsh then marched his Tomcats through Clay County, Bell County, and then Lincoln County to take home the hardware.
Yessir, failing to prepare often results in preparing to fail. Who believed that? Who took those words to heart? Benjamin Franklin and Vic Marsh sure did. Who wore those words better is a debate into which KPGFootball won’t be jumping, today anyway.
Perhaps another time…
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball and KPI Newspaper Group, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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